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Over the last few years, Hiba has tried to establish herself as a professional writer and community organiser, all while raising her seven year old daughter. But after months of rejections, last month she landed a full-time job working with women from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them into work.

Hiba’s Story

Hiba is a perfect example of someone who stays true to herself. When I first meet her, in a little cafe in Somerset House, she seems dejected, she is waiting to hear back from of several job applications but feels little hope in where these opportunities might take her.

Over the last few months this has been a familiar cycle for Hiba. This cycle sees her going from application to interview, waiting on edge for a week whilst also starting to contemplate how the job might affect her life, before having to move on, and apply for another round of jobs. It’s a disheartening and underwhelming cycle and one that Hiba is getting tired with.

“I’ve been getting an interview a week for every six weeks for content writing, which is pretty dope. But every single one hasn’t panned out for some reason or another and each application is a commitment within itself. You have to understand the process of looking for a job is not only really tiring and really draining, but it’s emotional.”

Often getting to the final stages of applications, pulling together essays, presentations and all manner of extra pieces of work, she had been really unlucky not to find something. Hiba has an impressive portfolio, a publication she self-made with three of her colleagues, and years of graft and knowledge behind her.

“I think the biggest part of it is the emotional process you attach to it, thinking this is it, I’m finally going to break the cycle, and then you don’t. And you have to pick yourself up again Sunday night, to start again on Monday – because you can’t afford to not look for work.”

Luckily, things have changed for Hiba, and after months of feeling dejected finally she has something to be elated about.

“You know it’s interesting how things always work out when you’re close to giving up, I think you just let go and then things start to happen,” Hiba says over email.

For the first time in years, Hiba has found creative and exciting work that inspires her. Hiba’s new role at the social care and employment charity, Community Links, sees her helping minority and ethnic women into work.

Over the course of the last few months, Hiba has been posting her journey to finding work on her Instagram. Tracking her feelings and thoughts online publicly, Hiba’s aim is to demystify the process behind finding work.

“I’ve found some of the employers in this sector are taking advantage of the fact that you just want to work. I feel like that’s something important to share, because offering £30 a day for you to go to work with them, it’s just not even pay. There are loads of other people that can get exploited like me, or fall vulnerable and take that role. Working three months like a dog, and then not even get a job in the end. It’s important to share that.”

Many of her posts have been about encouraging others to talk about their in work struggles. But the support she has garnered from putting these experiences online has been helpful.

“I didn’t want it to be a pity party. But I just believe that, if you’re going to convey a message, it’s better to do it through personal experience of narrative, than through telling people what to do. It’s so much more engaging, more thoughtful and honest when it’s through some kind of narrative.”